Dispensing carton with gable top



Nov; 30, 1954 c. H. DIXON DISPENSING CARTON WITH GABLE TOP 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1950 Nov. 30, 1954 c. H. DIXON DISPENSINGCARTON WITH CABLE TOP Filed Jan. 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 5 v ws w n7 Two R 0c I o o no 5 o o a l\ O O\ O c 8 0 o o N 8 o 4 0 2 c in 0 Q4 Mb H 6 K o H o c o 0 o 0 w Z a a m m m rsm'ro Chew-lee Q-L Dixon 4 40aMal 6044.

cfl-Hom v Nov. 30, 1954 c. H. DIXON 12,695,745

DISPENSING CARTON WITH GABLE TOP Filed Jan. 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3United States Patent() DISPENSING CARTON WITH GABLE TOP Charles H.Dixon, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 20, 1950, SerialNo. 139,565

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-17) The present invention pertains generally tocontainers .and more specifically to disposable, self-sustaining cartonsof paper or the like of the general type disclosed in U. S. Patent Nos.2,025,477, issued December 24, 1935, to Henry T. Scott and 2,360,439,issued October 17, 1944, to Charles Z. Monroe, and also in copending U.S. application Serial No. 139,628, filed January 20, 1950, by Carroll R.Alden. The invention finds particular, but by no means exclusive,utility in cartons adapted for distributing milk and other dairyproducts.

A carton of the foregoing character is customarily erected from a flatblank of sheet material which has been given an appropriate pattern ofscore lines, the latter serving to define a plurality of side panelstogether with corresponding upper and lower panel extension flaps orclosure members. The usual procedure in setting up such a carton is toform a polygonal paper tube open at both ends and then to close thelower or bottom panel extensions, retaining them in place by means of asuitable adhesive. The exposed surfaces of the carton may then be coatedor impregnated with a leakproof film by immersion in a paraffin bath,for example.

any convenient manner.

One object of the present invention is to provide a carton of thecharacter set forth and having incorporated into its top end closure anextensible, sanitarily protected pouring spout which may be opened withease for precise, dripless dispensing of the contents of the carton. Arelated object is to provide a pouring spout which recloses readily anddoes not require closure retention means other than those parts of thetop closure associated therewith.

Another object is to provide a carton of the above type which permitspartial disintegration of a portion of the top end closure as anincident to opening of the same and reformation of the disintegratedportion into an extensible pouring spout.

rther object is to provide a carton of the character set forth andhaving a gable top end closure with sufiicient strength to permit normalhandling of the carton, both before and after initial opening.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdetailed description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an illustrative cartonembodying the present invention, the carton being in closed condition.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton of Fig. l butshowing the same in an initially opened condition with its pouring spoutfully collapsed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the illustrative carton with its pouringspout in a partially extended position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the carton in pouringposition with its pouring spout fully extended.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the carton in the conditionshown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken vertically through theillustrative carton just prior to scaling of the top end closure, suchview being taken in the plane of the line 66 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view detailing the inside face of a blank from whichthe illustrative carton of Fig. 1 may be constructed.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, .a preferred embodi- Following thisoperation, the carton can be filled and its top sealed in scribed belowin considerable detail.

2,695,745 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications and alternative constructions falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1an exemplary disposable carton 10 embodying the present invention andbeing formed from paper or other appropriate sheet stock. It isself-sustaining in shape and is coated or impregnated with a suitablematerial to render it fluidtight and capable of holding liquids such asmilk. The carton 10 comprises a tubular body portion 11 which in thepresent instance happens to be of substantially square cross section. Atits base, the body 11 is provided with a suitable bottom closure (notshown), the details of which are unimportant for present purposes. Theupper end of the body 11 terminates in what will be recognized as thefamiliar gable top end closure 12 which is surmounted by a centrallaminar rib 13. The gable top also has incorporated therein suitablemeans for dispensing the contents of the carton.

The carton 10 is preferably fashioned from a fiat blank .14 of heavypaper stock or the like, the inside face of such blank being illustratedin Fig. 7. By means of an appropriate pattern of score lines, the blank14 is divided into a plurality of panels and areas which are utilizedfor the walls of the carton and the closure parts when the carton iserected. The central and major area of the blank 14 becomes the cartonbody 11 and is defined by spaced apart transverse score lines 15, 16running in substantially parallel relation from edge to edge .of theblank. intersecting the lines 15, 16 at spaced intervals therealong area series of perpendicular score lines 18, 19, 20 and 21 which define, inthe central and major area of the blank, side panels 22, 23, 24, 25together with a fractional side panel or glue flap 26 which overlies theouter marginal edge portion of the inside face of side panel 22 when thecarton is erected. Integral with the lower edges of the side panelsalong the line 16 are a plurality of panel extensions or bottom closureflaps 28, 29, 30 and 31 of the usual type.

Connected to the upper ends of the side panels along the line 15 are aplurality of rectangular and triangular panel extensions which serve togive the top of the carton its characteristic gable shape. Thusalternate side panels 22, 24 have rectangular extensions 32, 33respectively connected therewith along the score line 15, suchextensions lying between the latter and the upper edge of the blank asviewed in Fig. 7. The extensions 32 and i 33 are further subdivided byscore lines 34 and 35 which are substantially parallel to the line 15.The stock above the lines 34, 35 becomes part of the rib 13 uponerection of the carton while the stock below these lines but above theline 15 defines the inclined panels of the top closure 12. The upper endof the panel extension 32 is crossed by a transverse score line 36substantially even with the top edges of the adjacent panel extensionsand which defines a rectangular subpanel 37 and a flap 38. Alternatebody panels 23, 25, on the other hand, have extensions 39, 40 lyingbetween the score line 15 and the upper edge of the blank. Thoseportions of such edge which are common to the extensions 39, 40 eachhappen to be of shallow inverted V-shape. The stock in the panelextensions 39, 40 which is utilized in the rib 13 is separated from theremaining stock in these panels by score lines 41, 42 which follow theupper edge of the blank but are in substantial alinement with the lines34 and 35. The glue flap 26, of course, has a cor responding panelextension 44 which overlies the inside face of the panel extension 32when the carton is erected. Running across the extension 4-4 from theright-hand edge of the blank and terminating at the adjacent end of thescore line 42 is a score line 45 defining a subpanel 37A which overliesthe inner face of the subpanel 37 upon completion of the carton.

To permit infolding of the panel extensions 39, 40 as an incident tocompleting the top closure of the carton,

each of such extensions is provided with converging score lines. at theintersections between the corner score lines 18, 19 and the score line15, converging upwardly and intersecting at the center of score line 41.These lines define a central triangular subpanel 49 flanked by smallertriangular subpanels 50, 51. Starting at the intersection of the scorelines 41, 46 and 48 and running parallel to the corner score lines, butterminating at the upper edge of the blank, is a relatively short scoreline 52. This line, together with the score line 41, defines additionalsubpanels 54, 55 almost rectangular in shape and which are ultimatelyincluded in the structure of the. rib 13. In like manner, the panelextension 40 is scored along lines 56, 58 and 59. These lines, togetherwith the intersecting score line 42, define triangular subpanels 60, 61,62, together with subpanels 64, 65 having comparable shape and locationto subpanels 54, 55.

Provision is made for permitting partial disintegration of the centralrib 13 as an incident to initial opening of the carton and for utilizingsuch disintegration portion to create an extensible, sanitarilyprotected pouring spout 66 for dispensing the contents of the carton.This is accomplished without undue weakening of the top closure, thefull strength of the rib 13 existing prior to initial opening andsulficient strength for normal handling being present after initialopening. In effecting such objective, advantage is taken of the angularpattern of the score lines on the panel extensions 39, 40. Turning oncemore to Fig. 7, it will be perceived that the panel extension 33 isprovided with a pattern of score lines 68, 69 and 70 similar to thescoring on the adjacent panel extensions 39, 4t) and all intersecting atabout the center of the In thepanel extension '39, score lines 46, 48start transverse score line 35. These lines define in the panelextension 33 a central triangular subpanel 71 flanked by smallersubpanels 72, 74 and a pair of rectangular subpanels 75, 76 whichultimately form part of the structure of the rib 13. The subpanels 72,75 lie opposite the subpanels 51, 55, respectively, of the panelextension 39,

being separated therefrom by the corner score line 19. Similarly, thesubpanels 74, 76 lie opposite the subpanels 61, 64 respectively of thepanel extension 40, being separated therefrom by the corner score line20. The foregoing subpanels, together with the subpanel 33, beinghingedly connected to each other and also to the remaining portions ofthe top closure, are utilized to define the side walls of the pouringspout 66.

In order to maintain the full strength of the rib 13 prior to initialopening of the carton, as well as sufiicient strength in the rib fornormal handling of the carton after initial opening thereof, adhesivematerial is applied to those subpanels of the blank which define the rib13 so as to effect a permanent adhesive juncture between predeterminedones of these subpanels and a separable juncture between the remainingones of such subpanels. The adhesive is preferably of the thermoplasticor hot-melt type and has an activating temperature somewhat higher thanthat of the bath of paraffin or the like to which the carton issubjected prior to filling. Thus adhesive material is .1

applied over a substantial portion of the inside face areas of thesubpanel 37 and the overlying subpanel 37A of the glue flap. By the sametoken, subpanels 54 and 65 are also subjected to an application ofadhesive over the major portion of their inside face areas. As the topclosure is being made, the inside face areas of the subpanels 54, 65 arebrought into contact with those of the subpanels 37, 37A (as indicatedin Fig. 6) and the adhesive material is activated by the application ofheat and pressure to the outside planar faces of the rib 13. Thissecures such surfaces with a permanent juncture which cannot be rupturedwithout deliberate destruction of the structure of the sheet materialdefining the carton. In the present instance, the adhesive material isapplied to these surfaces by means of a printing operation whichdistributes it in several rows of closely spaced circular gobs .or dots78. The spacing of the adhesive dots 78 is such that those on thesubpanels 37, 37A will register with those on the contacting surfaces ofthe subpanels 54, 65. When the rib faces are subjected to heat andpressure during completion of the top closure, the registering andcontacting dots of adhesive 78 become firmly bonded together. Anyparaffin or other coating film which may cover the adhesive initiallysimply melts out of the way due to the fact that the activatingtemperature of the adhesive is considerably above the melting point ofthe'paraflin or other coating material on the carton;

For the purpose of effecting between the remaining ones of the ribsubpanels a separable adhesive juncture which will easily rupture uponthe application of a moderate opening force to the flap 38, the adhesivematerial is distributed relatively lightly thereover. Referring to Figs.5 and 7, it will be seen that the subpanels 55 and 64 which define therear lip of the pouring spout 66 have a row of adhesive gobs or dots 79running thereacross and spaced at intervals substantially greater thanthose between the dots 78. The inside face of the flap 38 is providedwith a parallel row of adhesive. dots 80 spaced to correspond with thedots 79. Upon downfolding of the flap 38 to the position indicated inFig. 6, the dots 80 register with and contact the dots 79, bondingtogether upon the application of heat and pressure. The bond thus formedis of lesser strength than that between the dots 78 and the surfacesjoined by the former may be separated with only slight andunobjectionable delamination of their sheet stock. This delamination iscoextensive with the contacting area of the individual dots, therebyavoiding destruction of, or substantial damage to, the sheet stockdefining the foregoing surfaces. Also located in a row on the flap 38 inspaced apart parallel relation to the row of dots 80 are additionaladhesive dots 81 which in the present instance happen to be staggeredwith respect to the dots 80. Located between adjacent ends of the rowsof dots 80, 81 are pairs of dots 82. When the flap 38 is downfolded tothe position of Fig. 6, the dots 81, 82 do not register with any othersbut simply become bonded directly to the subpanels and 76 when heat andpressure are applied. These areas of contact are indicated by the seriesof circles in dot dash outline in Fig. 5. The bond thus created is ofeven less strength than that which obtains between the dots 79, andcontributes to the ease with which the flap may be raised. To furtherfacilitate such action, the latter may be provided with an integral lifttab 84 which may be gripped by the fingers. It should be borne in mind,however, that the adhesive'bonds holding the 'flap 38 in closed positionover the pouring spout 66 are of sufficient strength to precludeaccidental lifting of the flap during normal handling of the carton andthat a deliberate application of opening force is required.

In the construction thus far described, the common outer edge 85 of thesubpanels 75 and 76 acts as a pouring weir for the extensible pouringspout 66. For the purpose of precluding injury to this edge duringopening of the carton, due, for example, to excessive delamination ofthe sheet stock, the edge 85 is recessed below the upper terminal edgesof the panel extensions 39, 40. This arrangement also enhances thesanitary protection afforded to the edge 85 by binding the same tightlybetweenthe flap 38 and the remaining plies of the rib 13.

With further regard to the sanitary protection of the pouring spout 66,it should be noted that the 'paraflin or other coating on the plies ofthe rib 13 becomes remelted in response to the application of the heatwhich activates the thermoplastic adhesive material. As a result of suchremelting, the coating material flows into all voids in the rib 13 whichmight harbor contamination from external sources and, under theapplication of sealing pressure, completely fills such voids. Thisaction effects a fluidtight seal of the top closure :of the carton and,at the same time, completely seals the pouring spout againstcontamination from the outside.

In actual usage, assuming the carton to be in the initially sealedcondition shown in Fig. 1, an upward pull by the users fingers upon thelift tab 84 will initially elfect separation of the outer'end portion ofthe flap 38 from the panels 75 and 76 by pulling the adhesive dots 81,82 free from the stock to which they tend to adhere. At the same time,this lifting force will also break the parafiin seal betweenthesesurfaces. Further lifting on the tab 84 pulls the merged adhesivedots 79, 80 loose from either the flap 38 or the subpanels 55, 64 andpermits the flap to be raised to its fully opened position. Anydelamination which occurs here is confined to the area immediatelyunderlying the dots and in any event is relatively moderate. At thispoint, the spout 66 may easily be extended from its collapsed positionby the application of a moderate squeezing force to its diagonallyopposed corners defined by the scorelines 19 and 20. When fullyextended, the spout 66 may have a cross-sectional area approximating afourth of that of the carton body. The spout may readily be restored toits collapsed position by the application of a moderate force to itsfront central portion. It may then be retained in reclosed position bythe simple expedient of bending the flap 38 down over it, the naturalstiffness of the flap providing the necessary retaining force.

I claim as my invention:

A top end closure for a self-sustaining tubular carton of substantiallysquare cross section and having a body portion defined by four sidepanels of substantially equal width, said top end closure comprising, incombination, a plurality of panel extensions corresponding to said sidepanels, a central laminar rib having a length substantially equal to thelateral dimension of one of said side panels, said rib having arelatively rigid portion of two-ply thickness extending substantiallyits entire length, said rigid portion being defined by a section of oneof said side panel extensions together with an overfolded section ofeach adjacent side panel extension joined thereto with a permanentadhesive bond, said rib having a separable portion of two-ply thicknessdefined by a section of the fourth one of said side panel extensions andanother section of each of said adjacent side panel extensions, saidsection of said fourth panel extension having a medial fold therein andalso having a shorter dimension transbe raised in response to afinger-tip lifting force to expose said separable rib portion withoutdisintegrating said rigid rib portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,058,592 Karls'son Oct. 27, 1936 2,097,647 Scott Nov. 2, 19372,360,439 Monroe Oct. 17, 1944 2,362,862 Sidebotham Nov. 14, 19442,390,909 Zinn, Jr. Dec. 11, 1945 2,470,199 Vivian May 17, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 607,192 Germany Dec. 19, 1934

